Fastener



Marjch 26, 1946.-

L'EMING- .FASTENER Fild Oct. 12, 1943.

I j I Ll? y g; z 1 I Patented Mar. 26, 1946 "UNITE-I) STATES PATENT "OFFICE FASTENER Samuel Leming, CincinnatL'Ohio Application October 12, 1943, Serial No. 505,991

4 Claims. (01.24- 243) My invention-relates to improvements in separable'fasteners for use on hose supporters, the principal object in view being to provide a simply constructed, inexpensive-fastener for the usual elastic-bands of hose supporters, and which is especially designed for quick and easy attachment'to the tops of stockings to "distribute the pull throughout a substantial area of the tops so as to preclude the development of runs in stockings, frequently developing in'the use of present day hose fasteners because the'pull on the'stockingsiis concentrated against a small area of the tops.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended'bvmy invention, all of which, togetherwith the precise nature of my improve- 'men'ts, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawing: v

Figure 1 is a view partly in edge elevation and partly in longitudinal section illustrating my improved fastener, in its preferred embodiment, applied,

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the body member,

Figure 3 is a view in bottom plan of said body member,

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the clamping unit,

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of a modified form of clamping unit.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, my improved fastener, as illustrated, comprises, as its basic element, a skeleton body member I of suitable material and including a female clamping bar 2 adapted to extend across the thigh of the wearer of the supporter, and upwardly converging, bar-like sides 3 at the ends of the bar 2 connected at the upper ends thereof by a bar 4 around which the usual elastic i may be trained and buckled, as at 6, in loop form. The body member I is curved, as shown in Figure 3, to fit the thigh of the wearer. 11 The bar 2 comprises a front, dovetailed channel I, longitudinally concave, and extending from end to end thereof.

The channel I is designed to contain a male, sectional, clamping unit 8 comprising a pair of side-by-side, bar-like, fiat sections 9, and a fiat spreader section III also of bar-like form, said sections being longitudinally-craved inconfOrm. ity with thecurvature of 'thechannel I- and the outer sides -ofthe sections =9 converging transversely so that the 1 unit 8 dovetailed inform to fit intothechannel I. The sections '9 :are'connected togetheratoneend :by a headedstud II onwhich 'said ends are slidable sothat the sections maybe moved toward or from each other laterally. At the other ends thereof, the sections 9 are connected together by-a coil spring. I! extending through suitable apertures I3 in said sections, with its ends anchored I in coun-tersinks I4 in the outer sides of the sections by eye-screws I5 extending fromsaidcountersinks into the sections. Thespreaderusection III has a reduced, parallel-sided end I5 pivoted 'between the sections 9 on the stud I I. The major portion of said section I0 is transversely wedge-shaped for a purpose presently apparent. The free end of the section I0 is provided with an edge notch I1 to straddle the spring I2, and a projecting lip I8 forming a finger grip.

Referring now to the use and operation of the described fastener, as will be clear, when the spreader section In is swung outwardly of the sections 9 of the unit 8, on the stud II, said sections 9 will be drawn together by the spring I2 and the unit 8 thereby collapsed so that said unit may be entered in the channel I. To secure the fastener to a stocking I9, the body member I is positioned on the inside of the top of the stocking, channel I outermost, and the collapsed unit 8 inserted in the channel I on the outer side of the stocking IS. A fold 20 of the stocking I8 will thus be entered in the groove 1. By swinging the spreader section in between the sections 9 of the unit 8, the sections 9 will be wedged or spread apart to clamp the fold ill in the groove 1 against the sides of said groove. Thus, a portion of the stocking I8 equal to the length of the bar 2 and unit 8 will be secured to the member I and because of the length of the part thus secured, the pull on the stocking will be distributed throughouta wide area of the stocking so as to preclude the development of runs or tearing of the stocking top.

According to my invention, the member I may also be formed of a resilient plastic material, and a solid male clamping bar I9 may be provided, as shown in Figure 7, for fitting with a snap action between the upper and lower walls of the channel I.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sumce to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

V Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein re-V served to such modifications as fall within the I scope of the appended claims.

What 'I claim is: V 1. A fastener for use on an elastic band of a hose supporter comprising a skeleton body member for attachment .to said band including a bar having a; longitudinaLchannel-therein, and a clamping-unit comprising a pair of: laterally op;

' posed bar-like sections adapted. to be inserted in said channel and connected together for relative. 1 separation to-clampingly engage the sides of said l5 channel, and a spreader section interposed beadapted to be attached to the band and including a bar having a longitudinal channel of dovetail form therein and forming a, female clamping unit in which a fold of the stocking top may be inserted, a male clamping unit comprising a pair of laterally spaced bar-like sections adapted to fit in said channel and being slidably connected totween said bar-like sections and constructed and arranged for operation to separate the bar- -like sections.

2. A fastener for attaching a stocking top to;

a hose supporter band comprising a body member adapted to be attached to. the band and including a bar having 'a' longitudinal channel 'of dovetail form thereinand forming afemale clampinglunit in which a fold of'the stocking top may be inserted, a male clamping unit comprising a pair of laterally spacedbar-like sections adapted to fit in saidchannel and being slidablycon nected together, for relative separation insaid channel to clamp-said fold against the sides of the channel, and a spreader section pivotallycon nected to said bar-like sectionsfor swingingin between the same and being wedge-shaped in cross section to separate said bar-like sections .by such swinging movement thereof.

3. A fastener for attaching a stockingtop to'a hose supporter band comprising a body member ge'ther for relativeseparationin said channel to gether for relative separation in said channel to clamp said fold against the sides of the channel, and a spreader section pivotal-ly connected to said barelike sections 'for swinging in b'etwenthe same and being wedge-shaped in cross section to sep- Iarate said bar-like sections by such swinging vmovement thereof, said connection including a spring opposing relative separation of said bar- 'like sections:

4. Aiastener for attaching a'stocking top to a hose supporter band comprisingabody member adapted to be attached to the band and including a bar having a longitudinal channel of dovetail form therein and forniing'a female'clamping unit in which a fold of the stocking top imay' b'ej inserted, a male clamping unit comprising a'pair of laterally spaced bar-like sections adapted to fit inrsaid channel and'being'slidably connected toclamp said fold against'the sides of the channel," and'a spreader section pivotally connected to said bar-like sections for swinging, in between the, same and being wedge shaped in cross'section to separate said bar-like sections by such swinging m'ovement thereof, said male clamping unit being of dovetail form in cross section to facilitate clamping said fold against the sides of the chans SAMUEL. 

